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County Highway Rock Crusher to be Back in Operation Tuesday

The DeKalb County Highway Department's Rock Crusher should be back in operation by tomorrow (Tuesday).

Road Supervisor Kenny Edge says lightning during the weekend of the flood on May 1st and 2nd completely burned out the electrical box putting the rock crusher out of commission.

Since then, Edge says his department has had to purchase rock from Rogers Group.

A brand new $30,000 electrical box has been installed at the rock crusher, which also includes costs of parts and labor. Edge says the expense of replacing the electrical box was covered by insurance.

Meanwhile, repair work continues on local bridges as a result of the May 1st and 2nd flood. Road Supervisor Edge says the local road department is getting federal and state assistance to help fund those repairs.

Wingwalls at a small bridge on Oakley Hollow Road collapsed during the flood and are now being replaced. According to Road Supervisor Edge, creek water rose about eight feet over the road during the flood and drifts were in the trees.

Edge says Jewel's Construction was recently hired to bring in a track hoe to dig out around the bridge where concrete can be poured for the new wing walls. The work is still underway on the project. Edge says the bridge remains open and is safe to travel.

Meanwhile, work has been done at a bridge on Lower Helton Road over Smith Fork creek. Edge says this bridge received the most surface damage and it costs $11,162 to repair the guardrails and re-pave the road on the approaches to the bridge.

Another repair was required at the Dismal Bridge over Smith Fork. Edge says this bridge received the most debris damage and it costs $11,561 to re-pave part of the road to the bridge, and to repair the guardrail posts, where the flood washed out around them. Edge says he also had to cut a road under the bridge in order to be able to access all the debris which accumulated there during the flood.

Edge says debris at the Dismal Bridge, two bridges at Sink Creek, and one bridge at Dry Creek will be removed once the state issues a permit, giving the road department authority to proceed.

According to Edge, the federal government will pay 75% and the state 12.5% for the repairs through grant funds and the county will have to match the remaining 12.5%